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RUSSELL Tourism was the main topic throughout much of the City of Russell’s council meeting on Thursday.
Greenup County Judge-Executive Bobby Hall addressed the council about the importance of both the city’s and county’s tourism commissions working together to maximize function.
While two cities — Russell and Greenup — both qualify to have their own tourism boards funded by a restaurant tax, the county’s tourism commission is funded through a hotel tax, which includes the Best Western in Russell. Greenup County Tourism has a paid director — Jamie Bloss.
“It’s always going to be we,” Hall said. “We’re always going to have Greenup County Tourism. We’re always going to have Jamie. We’re always going to have our board. However, we are reaching out an olive branch to see if Russell’s tourism committee would be interested in helping fund some of those events. We’re not asking for anyone to pay for her salary, her insurance or her retirement. We’re doing that as a fiscal court. That is part of our investment.
“… If there’s anything we can do as a Greenup County Fiscal Court — and I’ve told all eight mayors this — … we will always be here to help and support, whatever we can do,” he added.
Diamond Lewis, of the Russell Tourism and Convention Commission, echoed some of Hall’s words.
“As Mr. Hall said there, it’s definitely we,” he said. “This is not me, it’s not you, it’s we. This is a big job. Tourism is a huge undertaking to do it right, to bring the amount of people that we want to come here to enjoy our beautiful piece of paradise.”
Lewis recapped recent successful events and said local businesses are working hard to promote themselves and the city. He said the establishment of the entertainment district has gone well.
Lewis said the tourism commission hired Madeline Tipton to be its social media manager. He complimented her work so far.
The Facebook page is as follows — Wander Russell: Tourism Page of Russell KY. Lewis said of the page’s 2,200 followers, only 260 of them are Russell residents, which proves the tourism team is going the right direction, he said.
Lewis said the tourism commission has a “monumental task” in creating a park in Russell. He called it “the most precious piece of property we have, in my mind, in Russell.”
Lewis said his team is putting together ideas, but all the decisions are ultimately up the council.
He said the first phase is parking — which would go on the corner of Poplar Alley and Etna Street. Lewis pressured the council to give the tourism commission a “yes” to move forward on the first phase.
Lewis estimated the parking lot alone will cost between $150,000-$250,000.
He said without the restaurant tax, it would not be possible.
“Give us some guidance,” he said to the council. “We don’t want to waste tax money by moving forward too far and then backing up and starting over.”
Councilman Vincenzo Fressola said infrastructure issues may need to be resolved prior to proceeding with any parking plans.
“We’re talking about wanting to go, wanting to go, well, we should spend the additional few dollars, dig up those 60-year-old pipes before we put new sidewalk on top of it,” Fressola said. He suggested the council gather more insight on infrastructure issues first.
Other notable items from Thursday evening’s meeting:
• Ruth Hopkins prepared a statement to read during her next-to-last meeting as a council member. Hopkins chose not to run for re-election because of her husband’s health and other factors, she said.
“It’s been a very interesting two years and I’ve learned a lot about how the city is run,” Hopkins said. “… When I was campaigning two years ago, I made the promise that, if elected, the citizens could come to me with any concerns or complaints and we’d try to work it out. If we could not work it out, then I would suggest they come before the council. Fortunately, I was able to help a few people. For that, I’m very thankful. Unfortunately, there were some I could not help, and for that, I apologize.
“… Running a city the size of Russell is not an easy job, very difficult, and with that being said, I ask that the citizens of Russell keep the council members in your prayers. You may not agree with or understand the reason for everything they say or do, but they are doing what they think is best for the city, and they need your support.”
The crowd and council gave Hopkins a round of applause.
• The 47th annual Turkey Trot 5K is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning — Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m. The event featured 500-plus participants in 2023.
• The city’s Christmas dinner is set for Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. at The Edge Business Center.
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